Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

When Lianxiang learned about Yin Mingzhu's situation by chance, she discovered that she was actually the sister-in-law of the boss of the company's biggest competitor.

However, this sister-in-law doesn't seem to have a very good relationship with her twin sister.

Not only did she fail to receive support from her sister and brother-in-law.

On the contrary, due to a public conflict, he was maliciously suppressed by his sister and brother-in-law, and even his once thriving advertising consulting company could not continue operating.

So, with the intention of disgusting the boss of their biggest competitor, they secretly contacted Yin Mingzhu and helped her become a distributor of Lianxiang products. They even made an exception and signed an exclusive regional agency agreement with her. Considering that Yin Mingzhu's start-up capital was not much, they initially only used Baoqing, Hengzhou, and Yongcheng, the three southernmost cities in Hunan Province, as pilot projects. If Yin Mingzhu could prove herself and take on the main responsibility, helping Lianxiang to open up the market in the entire southern region of Hunan Province, then they would consider authorizing Yin Mingzhu to be the exclusive distributor of Lianxiang products throughout Hunan Province.

If this plan can be realized, it will kill three birds with one stone. You see, Lianxiang can profit, Yin Mingzhu can profit, and indirectly, it can also slightly annoy Lu Yang.

But...

Even such a good plan has a fatal flaw.

That is, the liquidated damages stipulated in their contract were not much.

Baoqing, Hengzhou, and Yongcheng are all third- or fourth-tier cities in inland China with underdeveloped economies. Even if they sign exclusive sales agency agreements, the penalty for breach of contract cannot be set too high.

Unless Yin Mingzhu is an idiot.

Is she stupid?
She's not stupid at all; a fool couldn't get into Tsinghua or Peking University. She fought her way out from millions of people in the county and became the only fresh graduate in her year to be admitted to Tsinghua or Peking University.

She was very shrewd. As soon as Lianxiang contacted her and offered to support her, she guessed Lianxiang's purpose.

With such a great opportunity to start her second business, she certainly couldn't miss it and was willing to accept Lianxiang's offer. However, she didn't agree to any of Lianxiang's excessive requests. Even the penalty for breach of contract, which was binding on both parties and tied to the exclusive agency rights, was negotiated to be kept to a minimum.

Pengcheng.

Ma Xiulan acts as a mediator between the two sisters.

She had just told her younger daughter all the terms and requirements of her eldest daughter's cooperation.

"Mom, I can help my sister pay the penalty for breach of contract, but exclusive agency rights are out of the question."

Yin Mingyue refused very decisively.

They only agreed to half of it, but the other half was non-negotiable.

"The products from Little Prodigy and Little Genius are in high demand and short supply. I can't stop supplying other distributors just to take care of my sister. That would be unfair and would also break company rules." Her voice was gentle but firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Ma Xiulan's face changed from initial anticipation to white, then from white to green, finally settling on a layer of ashen anger and disappointment.

She clenched her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. Her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton; she wanted to say something, but could only manage a few dry sobs.

"Mingyue, how...how could you be so heartless?"

Ma Xiulan finally managed to utter a sentence, her voice trembling violently.

She recalled her eldest daughter's words on the phone: "Mom, you absolutely must help me secure the exclusive agency rights for either Little Prodigy or Little Genius. It has to be at least one of those two, otherwise I'll lose out on this deal. In the end... I might rather not take her money."

Yin Mingzhu's idea was simple: she could give up the exclusive agency rights for Lianxiang, but only if Century Group gave her the same treatment.

However, she forgot that she was the one who came to ask for help first, not Yin Mingyue.

“Mingzhu is your own sister! You two are twins. Even if you had conflicts before, you should make up now. Your sister has agreed to admit her mistakes and is willing to turn over a new leaf. Can’t you give her the exclusive agency rights for both Little Prodigy and Little Genius companies? Even if two companies are a bit too many, you should at least give in a little… How about I make the decision? You can give your sister the exclusive agency rights for Little Prodigy in Hunan Province. Your sister definitely won’t let you down…”

The child prodigy has become very famous recently, so much so that even elderly people like Ma Xiulan have heard of him.

She simply wanted her eldest and youngest daughters to reconcile so that she could enjoy a better life and the whole family could live happily together. Was she wrong?

Yin Mingyue sighed softly, put down the bone china teacup in her hand, and the sound of the bottom of the cup hitting the coffee table was as crisp as a verdict.

"Mom, I've already made it clear. I can't just cut off other distributors' supplies to take care of my own sister. That's unfair and it would break company rules. This isn't about whether we sisters have a good relationship or not. Even if we hadn't fallen out, I wouldn't agree to it. The business world is like a battlefield. If I make an exception today, what will people think of Century Group tomorrow? What will they think of Chairman Lu Yang?" Her tone remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable authority.

That composure reminded Ma Xiulan of her daughter's current identity—the wife of the chairman of a multi-billion dollar group, no longer the little girl she used to be able to manipulate at will.

The living room was deathly silent.

Only the antique grandfather clock in the corner ticked away, each second striking Ma Xiulan's heart.

She watched as Yin Mingyue got up and walked to the window, her back straight and aloof.

The sunlight outlined her elegant figure, but it couldn't penetrate the gloom in Ma Xiulan's heart.

Ma Xiulan suddenly stood up, her movement so abrupt that she knocked over the teacup on the table, spilling brown tea all over the floor. "Fine! Fine! You two sisters have both grown up and neither of you listens to me anymore."

Her voice became shrill, trembling with sobs, "I...I'll tell Mingzhu right away, I'll ask her if we can give up the exclusive agency rights."

After saying that, she staggered toward the villa gate, grabbed her phone and dialed a number, her fingers trembling like withered leaves in the wind.

The call connected, and Yin Mingzhu's voice came through the receiver, tinged with a weary hope: "Mom? Did Mingyue agree?"

Ma Xiulan's tears finally broke free, and she wailed into the microphone, "Mingzhu...it didn't work out! Your sister is so hard-hearted, she absolutely refused...she agreed to pay the breach of contract fee, but exclusive agency...no way...she even said...the products aren't hard to sell, we can't cut off other people's supply..."

She rambled on, spewing out Yin Mingyue's exact words, and added at the end: "That brat, she doesn't give me any face at all, not even my face. How about... you see... let's just forget about it. At least we can get the penalty for breach of contract. Your sister also promised to lend you money. How about... we each take a step back and give up the exclusive agency rights for that old man? Is that okay?"

On the other end of the phone, Yin Mingzhu remained silent.

She understood her mother very well, but her mother had no idea how important the exclusive agency rights were.

She was a newcomer to the sales industry, but the reason she was able to open the current appliance store was because she held the exclusive agency rights for Lianxiang products. In the entire Baoqing, Hengzhou, and Yongcheng area, she was the only one who had access to Lianxiang's products.

Unless someone is secretly selling goods to other regions, or a distributor from another region is secretly selling their Lianxiang products to Baoqing, Hengzhou, and Yongcheng.

Otherwise, she would have no rivals at all and could easily capture the potential consumer electronics market in these three cities.

But once she loses the exclusive agency rights, betrays Lianxiang, and embraces Xiaoshentong and Xiaotiancai, but can't get the regional exclusive agency rights for either Xiaoshentong or Xiaotiancai, how can she compete with those established regional distributors?
It's simply impossible to compete, and even if we could, it would be a thankless task, burning ourselves out to benefit the other party. How could it compare to having the exclusive regional agency rights for a large company like Lianxiang?

Another reason is that even though Lianxiang's market share is still not as high as Xiaotiancai and Xiaoshentong, especially in the VCD market, at least it can still dominate the market!

After thinking for a long time, Yin Mingzhu's voice suddenly rose, "Mom, don't worry about it! Isn't she just relying on marrying well? I, Yin Mingzhu, don't depend on her! Tell her that from now on, I don't have this sister!"

The phone was abruptly hung up, leaving a busy tone. Ma Xiulan stood there, holding her phone, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

It's over, completely over.

The feud between the two sisters is now irreconcilable.

Meanwhile, in the headquarters office of Mingzhu Electric Appliances in Hengzhou, thousands of miles away, Yin Mingzhu slammed her phone down on the table.

He slumped into the creaking swivel chair, his fingers digging deep into his hair.

The more desperate the situation, the calmer you need to be.

She had almost figured it out when, sure enough, a thought flashed through her mind like lightning: Wait... Although Mingyue refused, Lianxiang couldn't possibly be unaware of this contact, could they?

She's been an agent for Lianxiang's computers and VCDs for so long, they must have been watching this sisterly drama closely.

"If...they think I'm really going to side with Century Group...and with the existing contract and such a low penalty for breach of contract..." A cold smile slowly crept onto Yin Mingzhu's lips. Yes!

Lianxiang's biggest fear is losing her as a distributor.

"If I 'inadvertently' let slip that my sister and I have reconciled and that I might break my contract and switch to the other company, would Lianxiang agree to make concessions on some key points in order to keep me in check?"

Her heart pounded, and a new plan quickly took shape in her mind: Borrow money? No need! As long as Lianxiang extends the repayment period from the current "cash settlement" to three months, or even two months, it will do!

The dozen or so stores she manages generate over ten thousand yuan in sales every day.

A three-month payment period means she can suddenly have millions more in working capital!

This money is enough for her to continue her orderly expansion, accelerate the pace of opening stores, and still have a lot left over as working capital. This is a hundred times better than begging that cold-blooded sister!
Yin Mingzhu suddenly stood up, her eyes flashing with a desperate glint.

She walked to the window and looked down at the bustling street below, where her store sign gleamed in the sunlight.

“Lianxiang…aren’t you afraid I’ll run away?” she muttered to herself, her tone laced with ruthlessness. “Then I’ll make you even more afraid.”

She took a deep breath, turned around and grabbed another intact phone on the table, her fingers flying across the contacts.

On the screen, the name "Zhang, Regional Manager of Lianxiang" was clearly visible.

She pressed the dial button, her heart pounding like a drum. Success or failure hinged on this moment. The call connected, and Mr. Zhang's familiar, ingratiating voice came through, tinged with a hint of languor: "Oh, Miss Mingzhu? What a rare guest! Hearing your voice, Miss Mingzhu, I, Old Zhang, am going to have trouble sleeping tonight."

Yin Mingzhu forced a smile, but her voice was as cold as ice: "President Zhang, stop joking. We have serious business to discuss."

She walked to her desk, her fingers tapping the surface unconsciously, the rhythm rapid, as if counting down.

"Have you seen Lianxiang's recent sales figures? I've helped stabilize half of the market in Baoqing, Hengzhou, and Yongcheng. But the market has changed. Century Group's prodigies and geniuses are heading south, and I'm under a lot of pressure."

Mr. Zhang's laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by a businesslike tone: "Mr. Yin, what do you mean by this? Our contract is very clear."

He paused, lowered his voice, and said tentatively, "But... if you're really having a hard time, we can talk privately. How about tonight? Same place as always. I've booked a private room at the best hotel in Xingcheng. Come over now, and we can talk while we eat."

Yin Mingzhu's fingernails dug into her palm.

It's the same old set again!

A greasy, balding middle-aged man who is divorced and has two kids doesn't even look in the mirror. He actually wants to pursue Yin Mingzhu. It's like a toad trying to eat swan meat.

He thought she was a lamb to the slaughter, and that he could force her to comply by threatening her with business.

She suppressed her anger, but deliberately softened her tone, as if casting a wide net: "Mr. Zhang, please don't misunderstand. I just wanted to remind you that my sister, Yin Mingyue, has been looking for me recently... She promised to pay my breach of contract fee and get me to switch to Century Group. As you know, the exclusive agency rights for Little Prodigy and Little Genius are much more sought after than Lianxiang. This puts me in a difficult position!"

She paused deliberately, letting the words ferment in the silence.

On the other end of the phone, Mr. Zhang's breathing became noticeably heavier. Without time to think further, he quickly urged, "Don't be impulsive, please don't be impulsive, Mr. Yin. We can negotiate the terms Century Group can offer. Don't forget, Lianxiang is backed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Century Group is just a mere private enterprise; how can they compete with us?"

Although Lianxiang is a listed company in the port city, it is now the mid-1990s. At this time, Lianxiang can actually be considered a state-owned enterprise controlled by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

No wonder this Mr. Zhang has such a sense of superiority.

Seeing that Yin Mingzhu remained silent, he assumed she had been intimidated, so he reverted to his old ways and said smugly on the phone, "Miss Mingzhu, I'm doing this for your own good, don't make a mistake!"

Yin Mingzhu's lips curled into a cold smile after hearing this.

Come again.

Did you think she would care?
The fish had already taken the bait, so she threw out the lure and went straight for the kill: "Really? Whether I make a mistake or not is none of your concern, Mr. Zhang. Didn't you just say that Century Group could provide it? Can you represent Lianxiang and do the same? Okay, I want the payment period extended to three months. Cash payments are too tight, and I'm having cash flow problems. If you can agree to that, I promise I will not have any further contact with Century Group."

Mr. Zhang remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing his options.

But soon, his disgusting nature resurfaced: "Mingzhu, this request... is quite demanding. It depends on your sincerity. Shall we meet tonight and discuss it in detail? You need to put my mind at ease first."

His words were blatantly suggestive: he wanted to exchange the payment period for her "companionship".

No, he promised not to abandon her after starting something, because his goal was to gain both her and his money, not just to play around. Although Mingzhu Company was small, it belonged exclusively to her daughter. And although Lianxiang was large, what did it have to do with him, Zhang Laoliu? He was just a high-level employee. But if he could use Lianxiang as a springboard to win over this beautiful and rich woman, he could achieve his goal.

When the time comes, they will join forces perfectly. With him acting as an inside agent in Lianxiang to transfer benefits to her, they will be very confident in developing Mingzhu Company. Perhaps one day, Zhang Laoliu will even ring the listing bell on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

perfect.

This plan is absolutely perfect.

He was determined to act immediately and implement the plan tonight. Didn't the other party want to extend the payment period to three months? He could do that, not just three months, six months was no problem, but on the condition that the other party had to become his woman, Zhang Laoliu's woman.

Yin Mingzhu's anger flared up, but she didn't lash out.

The time has not come yet.

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the Mingzhu Electrical Appliances store on the street corner.

People came and went, bustling about like ants. This was her bargaining chip.

“Mr. Zhang,” her voice suddenly hardened, “don’t forget, I manage nineteen stores, generating hundreds of thousands in revenue daily. If I really switch jobs, Lianxiang will collapse in Hunan. As for Lao Liu… I heard he’s been checking regional performance lately. Do you think he’ll tolerate a manager driving away such an important channel?”

These words were like a bucket of cold water, leaving Mr. Zhang speechless.

He stammered, "You...you dare threaten me?"

Yin Mingzhu laughed, a clear but cold laugh: "It's not a threat, it's a win-win situation. You help me extend the payment period, and I'll help you maintain your position. Otherwise, I'll have to talk to Lao Liu directly. Given my status, he won't refuse to see me, will he?"

This strike hit the vital point.

On the other end of the phone, Mr. Zhang was completely deflated.

The other party's identity? Old Liu specifically instructed me about that.

He stammered, "Okay...okay! As for the payment terms, I...I'll try my best to negotiate, but Mr. Yin, we need to sign a supplementary agreement. You have to guarantee that you won't break the contract."

Yin Mingzhu breathed a sigh of relief, but the feeling of nausea in her heart grew stronger.

Mr. Zhang was only temporarily intimidated by her, but he will definitely find another opportunity to continue to annoy her.

But the other party happened to be Lianxiang's sales manager in the Jingchu region.

She still can't completely ignore the other person.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door, and the assistant poked his head in: "Mr. Yin, the sales report for the Yongcheng store..."

Yin Mingzhu waved her hand to interrupt, her eyes already sharp.

"Put it here for now. Notify all store managers that we'll have a meeting tomorrow; we need to accelerate our expansion."

She stood up, walked to the map, and traced her finger across Lou City, Tancheng, Zhu City, and other areas in central Hunan Province that border Hengzhou. (End of Chapter)